Vietnam War memorial repair cost estimated at $15,000

It could cost around $15,000 to repair a Vietnam War memorial damaged by a car Sunday, an Aberdeen official said.

That estimate covers the two benches and a large slab of granite that were severely damaged, said Mark Hoven, park superintendent.

A second slab of granite was also slightly damaged, but might be salvaged, Hoven said.

Thomas Harwood was driving eastbound on Sixth Avenue Southeast when his vehicle crossed the westbound lanes and entered Anderson Park, according to a police report. The vehicle traveled through the park, running into the memorial before coming to a stop a short distance away.

Harwood, 48, of Aberdeen faces a third-offense drunken driving charge, a felony. He remained in fair condition Thursday night at Avera St. Luke's hospital, said a nursing supervisor.

Advertisement

Rausch Granite Monuments of Milbank, which was involved in building the monument in 1987, has been called in to help with the restoration, Hoven said.

The estimate, which Hoven characterized as early, could be more or less, depending on the cost on the second slab.

Whatever the cost, the city wants to restore the memorial to its original state, Hoven said.

"I think we feel strongly we need to return it back to where it was," Hoven said. "We just need to figure out what avenues we need to go through."

The damaged pieces of the monument are in a containment area near Wylie Park, Hoven said. He said the second slab that was damaged likely will be removed and sent to the granite company in Milbank to determine whether it can be salvaged.

The monument was a tribute to 13 servicemen from Brown County who died in the Vietnam War, said Larry Ligtenberg, who was involved with plans to install the original monument.

The cost to install the project then was $35,000, he said.

It could take as long as four months before the monument is fully restored, Hoven said. The granite delivery could be the biggest issue, he said.

Hoven isn't sure how the repairs will be paid for, but he's confident the memorial will be fully restored.

If Harwood pleads guilty or is found guilty, restitution would be asked to pay for the repair costs, said Chris White, deputy state's attorney for Brown County.